REV. THOMAS SPURGEON RESIGNS HIS CHARGE. ILL-HEALTH THE CAUSE. Auckland, May 28. THE BAPTIST TABERNACLE

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 373, 1 June 1889, Page 6

REV. THOMAS SPURGEON RESIGNS HIS CHARGE. ILL-HEALTH THE CAUSE. Auckland, May 28.

THE BAPTIST TABERNACLE

At the monthly meeting of the Baptist Tabernacle congregation held last evening} a letter was read from the pastor, the Rev. ThomasSpurgeon,resigninghischarge. Two reasons were assigned, one being ill-health, and the other the fact that the church work was not prospeiing as he would like *t to prosper. The latter circumstance he suggested was attributable to the for er, as the state of bis health would nob permit him to pursue his work as he desired to do, i Considerable discussion ensued, and various suggestions were proposed by the deacons of the church in view of meeting the emergency. The pastor said he could nob see his way clear to accept of a holiday, and asked that the church mightaccept of his resignation at once, as he had no intention of reconsidering his decision. A suggestion was then made that the pastor's resignation should be submitted to a larger meeting of church members, and further consideration was accordingly postI poned until the evening of Monday, June 10th. It was rumoured this morning that Mr Spurgeonhad tenderedhisresignationowing to the cablegram published in the Star last evening, in which his brother, the Rev. Charles Spurgeon, was reported to have been assaulted by Mr J. Duckworth, for paying attention to the wife of the latter on the mail steamer Mariposa during her lecent pussage from Auckland to San Francisco, but we are assured that this is not correct. We are informed thai at a meeting of deacons of the Tabernacle hold immediately before the church meeting last evening, Pastor Thomas Spurgeon was for the firsttime acquainted with the unwelcome news respecting his brother. He expressed much surprise, and for a time seemed completely overcome, but, after he hadthoughtover the matter, he canie to the conclusion that there was probably nob much truth in the report, or that some trivial event had been magnified till it had assumed the proportions of a scandal.

PASTOR T. SPURGE ON INTERVIEWED. In order to ascertain the reasons which led to the resignation, a Star reporter called upon Pastor Thos.' Spurgeon at his residence, in Arney Road, Remuera, this morning. The interview took a conversational turn as follows :—: — "You come from one of the newspapers ?" said Mr SSpurgeon intuitively, as he shook our representative cordially by the hand, and invited him to a seat. "Now what can I do for you ?" | "Well, it is reported that you have re i signed j our pastorate at the Tab rn.acle," replied the interviewer, " and I am anxious to ascertain the particulars correctly." " It is true that I have sent in my resignation," added Mr Spurgeon. " I have resigned the pastorate of the church." "Has your actionin this direction any connection with thereuort circulated aboutyour brother Charles and Mrs Duckworth?' " Not the slightest connection ; the letter containing my resignation was written betore I knew anything of that matter." " Well, the coincidence ia rather singular, you must admit, and already people are connecting one incident with the other." "That is simply absurd, but people are always very teady to get hold of anything in the shape of a clerical scandal, you know." " I suppose you know nothing more ahout the affair than was published in our last issue ?" " No : I know nothing more about it than anyone else, but I try to belie\e that it is not true, of course. The scandal has probably arisen out of some trivial incident, and has been made the most of in coming from an Amexican source." " Would your brother be in London now?" "No, he would probably be at New York. I heard from him by letter posted at Honolulu, and from thence he_ was going to San Francisco and New York. He intended to remain there until about the middle of July." "I suppose your brother made no mention of troubles between himself and Mr Duckworth in that letter ?*' " No, he did not " " Were you acquainted with Mr Duckworth personally ?" • My brother introduced me to Mr Duckworth on board the Mariposa just before she left for San Franci&co. They then appeared to be the greatest of friends, although they had just become acquainted with each other."

WHY MR SPU;RGEON RESIGNED. " Would you mind telling me the reason 8 you have for sending in your resignation V " The letter is in bhe hands of the Church, but I do not see that it would be improper to make the contents public." " Well, as people are connecting your resignation with your brother's trouble, probably it would be the best course to make known the actual facts in connection with your resignation." " Unfortunately we cannot? make head or tail of that "other affair. ' It is probably a very much exaggerated report, and you know, unfortunately, these cablegrams are not very reliable." ' And you don't think there is anything in the report?" •' Oh, I suppose there must be some foundation tor the cablegram, but that has nothing to do with my lesignntion." "Will you kindly explain, Mr Spuiv geon ?" " My reason for resigning is ill - health ; by that 1 do not mean that I am merely sick. For some time past I have not felt able to prosecute the work involved in the pastorate of such a large church as the Tabernacle. I feel that I cannot do it justice. I retired when the letter of resignation was submitted to the church, and they arranged that a special church meeting should be called ( for Monday week, to receive my resignation and discuss the position. I told them distinctly that 1 could not reconsider my dcci- ion and that my mind was made up. There were two of the deacons, Messrs Battley and Stone, away-^-Mr Stone, I believe, returned today — and it was thought best to postpone further consideration until they were present." "You have been associated with the Tabernacle for many years, have you not ?" "I have been for eight years in the church, and I have not been very strong during that period. I do not feel worse now than I have done all along, but I now see that there is rather more work to be done than I can undertake, there are so many things that ought to be done that I cannot do."

" What do you propose to do next ? Do you intend Jo return Huine ?" "1 have no plans whatever j, I have not gone that far. It took some time to make up my mind to! leave • Auckland, where I have become' so much attached to the people,, but. I cannOfc bear to see the work of the church suffering, and it seems to me to be in that condition^ It requires personal supervision in every department, and I cannot do it;.' "Do you think of retiring from the ministry ?" "I do not know myself what I shall do. I want a long change of some sort for rest. I determined to resign here before 1 thought of the future. I believe my way will open. Above all things I desire it to be understood that there ' are no other personal motives than anxiety on account of my health that have influenced me. I have no idea of bettering myself,' you understand." " And when do you propose to leave U 3?" "In view of the difficulties of obtaining supply for the pulpit,- I have suggested that the notice should be six months; That would take us to December. Then I have to attend a Union meeting at Dunedin.and I thought that if I went away from the church at the same time it would be best." "Have you told me the substance of your letter ?" 41 No, not entirely. It contained two reasons for my resignation-: one was bhe state of my health, and the other was the fact that the work of the church to my mind was not prospering as it ought.' I ranked the two reasons together, and said that the existing state of things was probably due to the fact that I cannot see to things." This concluded the intervievy, and our reporter, having expressed his acknowledgments, withdrew.

Mr S. H. Matthews, Secretary of the Tabernacle, was requested to furnish us with a copy of Mr Spurgeon's letter of resignation. He stated that it was locked up in the church safe. Its purport was that Mr Spurgeon felt himself unable to overtake the work connected with such a large church. His health had been bad for a long time past, and his present decision was the outcome of long and serious consideration. Mr Matthews said that although Mr Spurgeon's resignation came upon the church a a a surprise he had known of Mr Spurgeon's intention for some considerable time, and had endeavoured to dissuade him from this step, without effect.